Philadelphia Bar Association Annual Gold Sponsor

2 Board Resolution

4 Pro Bono Week

12 Law Rocks

21 Bench-Bar Sponsors

In This Issue

Introducing the Philadelphia Bar As-sociation Visa® Rewards Credit Card

Supreme Court Candidates Discuss Judicial Ethics

Philadelphia Bar Association members now have

access to everything Sb1 Federal

Credit Union offers, including

their own point-earning

Philadelphia Bar Association

Visa® Rewards credit card. The

new Philadelphia Bar Association

Visa® Rewards credit card

comes packed with a long list of

financial benefits, including a

low introductory rate; no annual, balance transfer and cash

advance fees; free car rental insurance and more.

Every trip to the store or online purchase earns cardholders

one point for every one dollar they spend. Those points add

up fast—good for use toward travel and gift rewards.

With the Philadelphia Bar Association Visa® Rewards credit

card, cardholders have the option to transfer their other credit

card balances over without paying any additional

fees.

Sb1 Federal Credit Union is a local, not-for-

profit financial cooperative. Originally founded in

1977, it has evolved into a full-service, member-

oriented financial institution servicing more

than one hundred companies across the country

and within the Philadelphia community. It is

committed to making its members happy by

introducing them to a new kind of banking—where savings

really matter, borrowing money is affordable and fees are few

and far between.

Look for this great benefit coming soon. For questions

contact Jason Greer at Jason.Greer@sb1fcu.org or at

800.806.9465 ext. 7746.

By Amanda J. Dougherty

The last time Pennsylvania had

three positions available on its Supreme

Court was when William Penn was gov-

ernor. This momentous occasion comes

in the wake of various scandalsimpacting

the court. It was thus no surprise that

judicial ethics was a dominating topic at

the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Deci-

sion 2015: Supreme Court Candidates

Forum on Sept. 18, at the PBI Confer-

ence Center in Philadelphia.

Four of the seven candidates partici-

pated in the forum: Hon. Christine L.

Donahue, Superior Court, Allegheny

County; Hon. Kevin M. Dougherty,

Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia

County; Hon. Michael A. George,

President Judge, Court of Common

Pleas, Adams County; and Hon. David

N. Wecht, Superior Court, Allegheny

County. Judge Donohue led opening

continued on page 14

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Moderator Carl A. Solano, partner, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP (left), with four of the 2015 judicial candidates for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, (from left) Hon. Christine L. Donahue, Superior Court, Allegheny County; Hon. Kevin M. Dougherty, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County; Hon. Michael A. George, President Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Adams County; and Hon. David N. Wecht, Superior Court, Allegheny County; at Decision 2015: Supreme Court Candidates Forum on Sept. 18.

The Monthly Newspaper of the Philadelphia Bar Association Vol. 44, No. 10 October 2015

®

Philadelphia

2 Philadelphia Bar Reporter October 2015 philadelphiabar.org

Board Supports Commission’s School-Funding Formula

By Thomas Rogers

In 2014, the Pennsylvania state legislature estab-

lished the Basic Education Funding Commission (Com-

mission) through Act 51 to review and make recommen-

dations related to basic education funding in the state. In

recent years, nearly $1 billion has been stripped from basic

state education funding, with the state’s public schools

bearing the brunt. The Commission was established in

response to funding disparities that have been aggravated

by these cuts in spending.

Pennsylvania currently ranks as the state with the great-

est divide between its highest- and lowest-spending school

districts. According to the National Center for Education

Statistics and the U.S. Secretary of Education, poorer dis-

tricts in Pennsylvania, like Philadelphia, spend 33 percent

less on each student than their wealthier counterparts. The

Commission has proposed a school-funding formula that

would more equitably distribute state aid to Pennsylvania’s

public school districts by considering things like current

enrollment, poverty levels and ability to fund schools

through local taxes.

The Board of Governors unanimously adopted a

resolution on Sept. 21 supporting the work of the Com-

mission. The resolution urges Gov. Tom Wolf and the

General Assembly to pass a 2015-2016 budget, followed

by effecting an immediate increase in education funding

of at least $410 million and implementing the Commis-

sion’s formula. The increase in funding would help to

restore past cuts and bring districts back to the 2010 fund-

ing level as a base year.

Access to quality education is vital to students in

Pennsylvania in order to prepare them for long-term eco-

nomic well-being and give them the ability to provide for

themselves and their families. “The Commonwealth’s lack

of a fair budget and fair funding formula has resulted in

our schoolchildren suffering yearly with less and less” said

Erin E. Lamb, chair elect of the Young Lawyers Division.

“Supporting this movement places the Association at the

heart of the fight to force the Commonwealth to make

the constitutional right to a ‘thorough and efficient’ public

education system for all children a reality in Pennsylvania.”

The Philadelphia Bar Association supports the Com-

mission and its funding formula in order to afford all

of Pennsylvania’s students quality education in order for

them to become proficient in the skills necessary to com-

pete successfully in the global economy.

For More InformationTo view the full resolution, visit philadelphiabar.org.

Pennsylvania currently ranks as the state with the greatest divide between its highest- and lowest-spending school districts. According to the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Secretary of Education, poorer districts in Pennsylvania, like Philadelphia, spend 33 percent.less on each student than their wealthier counterparts.

philadelphiabar.org October 2015 Philadelphia Bar Reporter 3

Earlier in the year, I wrote a

column titled “Walking Point”

(a military term for taking the

lead), where I talked about a

potential collaboration between

the Philadelphia Bar Associa-

tion’s Military Affairs Commit-

tee and the Veterans Multi-

Service Center (VMC) here in

Philadelphia. VMC provides

services, programs, opportunity

and advancement to veterans

of the U.S. Military and their

families. VMC also serves more than 2,500 area veterans from

World War II to our current active duty, guard and reserve service

members, by providing meals, housing, transportation and other

services to the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. I reported that

myself; my law partner, J. Denny Shupe, co-chair of the Military

Affairs Committee; Dianna Schwartz, executive director of the

Military Assistance Project; Arlene Rivera Finkelstein, executive

director of the Toll Public Interest Center at the University of

Pennsylvania Law School; and Colleen France, director of the JD/

MBA program at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, met

with Tim Williams, executive director of VMC and his staff. I

also reported that we discussed ways in which our attorneys, and

law and JD/MBA students from the University of Pennsylvania

Law School, can help veterans. I asked you to stay tuned for more

information.

We are now “closing ranks.” (When “walking point,” if the tar-

get is spotted, those “walking point” will signal to the remainder

of the patrol to “close ranks” in order to meet the objective). On

Oct. 16, 2015, the Military Assistance Project and the University

of Pennsylvania Law School’s Service Members and Veterans Legal

Assistance Project are teaming up to provide legal help to veterans

at the VMC here in Philadelphia and in Coatesville, Pa. The legal

services will be provided by the students and attorneys. During

the summer, VMC was working with Stephen Iacovo, first-year

law student at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a

veteran, to set up some of the programs. Legal services to be pro-

vided will include personal bankruptcy by the Military Assistance

Project, expungement of non-conviction criminal records by the

Criminal Records Expungement Project, and landlord-tenant

disputes by the Penn Housing Rights Project.

There will also be workshops given on GI Bill claims by the

Wharton Veterans Club and child custody/support and domestic

violence issues by Philadelphia Legal Assistance’s Custody and

Support Assistance Clinic. Additional workshops will take place

on Nov. 14, 2015, and in February, March and April of 2016.

We are also exploring ways to get more of our attorneys involved.

Continue to stay tuned.

I would again like to thank Denny; Patrick Murphy, co-chair of

the Military Affairs Committee; Dianna; Arlene; and Colleen for

“walking point” on this project.

Albert S. Dandridge III (adandridge@schnader.com), partner and chief diversity officer at Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, is Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Editor-in-Chief Heather J. Austin, Esq.

Associate Editors Regina Parker, Esq.

Thomas L. Bryan, Esq.

Julia Swain, Esq.

Mary-Kate Martin (née Breslin), Esq.

Benjamin F. Johns, Esq.

Annie Kernicky, Esq.

Lauren A. Strebel, Esq.

Amanda Dougherty, Esq.

Elisa C. Advani, Esq.

Maureen M. Farrell, Esq.

Advisory EditorMolly Peckman, Esq.

Director of Communicationsand Marketing

Meredith Z. Avakian-Hardaway

Executive Director Mark A. Tarasiewicz

The Philadelphia Bar Reporter (ISSN 1098-5352) is published monthly and available by subscription for $45 per year by the Philadel-phia Bar Association, 1101 Market St., 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2911. Periodicals postage paid at Philadelphia, PA POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Philadelphia Bar Re-porter, c/o Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St., 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2955. Telephone: (215) 238-6300. Association Web site: philadelphiabar.org. Newspaper e-mail address: reporter@philabar.org. The edi-torial and other views expressed in the Phila-delphia Bar Reporter are not necessarily those of the Association, its officers or its members. Advertising rates and information are available from Don Chalphin at American Lawyer Media, 1617 JFK Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19103. Telephone: (215) 557-2359 or e-mail dchal-phin@alm.com).

Tell Us What You Think!The Philadelphia Bar Reporter welcomes letters to the editors for publication. Letters should be typed. There is no word limit, but editors reserve the right to condense for clarity, style and space considerations. Letters must be signed to verify authorship, but names will be withheld upon request. Letters may be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to: Thomas Rogers, Managing Editor, Philadelphia Bar Reporter, Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St., 11th floor, Philadel-phia, PA 19107-2955. Phone: (215) 238-6345. Fax: (215) 238-1159. E-mail: reporter@philabar.org.

Frontline

Closing RanksBy Albert S. Dandridge III

The Philadelphia Bar Association

has formed its Elections Committee,

chaired by Immediate Past Chancellor

William P. Fedullo, consisting of Butler

Buchanan III, Lawrence S. Felzer, Rachel

E. Kopp, Sophia Lee, Ira S. Lefton, Kevin

V. Mincey, Wesley R. Payne IV, Hon.

Tina Maria Rago, Gina Furia Rubel, Louis

S. Rulli, and Brad V. Shuttleworth. Chan-

cellor Albert S. Dandridge III, Chancellor-

Elect Gaetan J. Alfano and Vice Chancel-

lor Deborah R. Gross serve as ex-officio

members. As Secretary, Jacqueline G. Segal

serves as a non-voting member.

Offices for which candidates are being

solicited are Vice Chancellor, Secretary,

Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, Assistant

Treasurer, and five seats on the Board of

Governors. Each board seat carries a

three-year term.

Association members may become

candidates for any of these offices by filing

with the Secretary by Oct. 9 (at least 60

days prior to the Dec. 8, 2015 Annual

Meeting) nominations in writing that,

for candidates of the Board of Governors,

must be signed by at least 25 members

who are entitled to vote; for candidates

for Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary

and Assistant Treasurer, nominations shall

be signed by at least 35 members who are

entitled to vote; and for candidates for

Vice Chancellor, shall be signed by at least

100 members who are entitled to vote.

Individuals who wish to run for any of

the above named offices should contact

Susan Knight, CFO/director of admin-

istration, at sknight@philabar.org for

additional information. Signatures, along

with a resume, and written authorization

should be submitted to Association Secre-

tary Jacqueline G. Segal, c/o Susan Knight,

Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market

St., 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107,

no later than 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9, 2015.

Bar Election Filing Deadline is Oct. 9

4 Philadelphia Bar Reporter October 2015 philadelphiabar.org

n By Sara Woods and Jodi Schatz

During the week of Oct. 25–31, Philadelphia will celebrate the seventh annual National Pro Bono Week with a series of events designed to celebrate pro bono and inspire our community to give back to those in need.

Sponsored by the American Bar Association, National Pro Bono Week (www.celebrateprobono.org) is a national effort to meet the growing needs of this country’s most vulnerable citizens by encouraging and supporting local efforts to expand the delivery of pro bono legal services, and by showcasing the great difference that pro bono attorneys make for the nation, its system of justice, its communities and, most of all, for the clients they serve.

Prior to the official start of National Pro Bono Week, area public interest agencies will offer “pro bono road shows,” 30-60 minute presentations in the workplace, highlighting pro bono opportunities available in Phila-delphia. The road shows will be offered beginning on Monday, Oct. 5, through Friday, Oct. 16. We encourage firms and corporations in the same buildings to consider co-hosting a road show. To schedule a road show, contact Jodi Schatz at jschatz@advokid.org or (267) 546-9228.

In recognition of the importance of pro bono work in ensuring justice for the citizens of Philadelphia and

the effort that attorneys expend in providing pro bono services, the First Judicial District celebrates the contribu-tions of those who provided pro bono services beginning in 2014 through 2015. The annual Pro Bono Honor Roll and Awards Ceremony will be held on Thursday, Oct. 29, at City Hall, in the Ceremonial Courtroom, at 4 p.m. For more information about the Honor Roll, please go to http://www.courts.phila.gov/probonoawards/.

To raise awareness of the need for legal services for the poor, workplaces can participate in “Go Casual for Justice” in October. Coordinated by the Philadelphia Bar Foundation and the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Large Law Firm Pro Bono Committee, employees at participat-ing workplaces pay a suggested donation to dress casually for a day. All proceeds go to the Philadelphia Bar Foun-dation, which provides general operating grants to legal services organizations in Philadelphia.

Law students are also involved in the week’s activities, hosting events and inviting students to show their support for pro bono by wearing National Pro Bono Week pins, ribbons and t-shirts. New this year, on Friday, Oct. 30, join the Philadelphia Bar Foundation (@PhBarFounda-tion) and members of the Delivery of Legal Services Committee for a pro bono Twitter chat from 3- 4 p.m. EST. Interested legal professionals, law students and oth-

ers are invited to join the conversation using the hashtag #ProBonoHelps and highlight the need for increased pro bono work in Philadelphia. For more information contact Maya Brown, marketing and development coordina-tor for the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, at mbrown@philabar.org.

Throughout National Pro Bono Week, the Philadel-phia public interest community will host several trainings open to all members of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Whether you are looking for a hands-on service event or a training with the option of later service, you can find the perfect match during Philadelphia’s celebration of National Pro Bono Week.

Whether you are new to the practice of law, new to pro bono, or an experienced volunteer, we hope that you will join us as we celebrate Philadelphia’s commitment to access to justice.

For a list of the pro bono trainings and clinics, go to www.philadelphiabar.org.

Sara Woods (swoods@phillyvip.org), executive director of Phila-delphia VIP, and Jodi Schatz (jschatz@advokid.org), director of intake and pro bono services for Support Center for Child Advo-cates, are co-chairs of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Delivery of Legal Services Committee’s Pro Bono Committee.

NatIoNal Pro BoNo Week

Celebrate Pro Bono Week Oct. 25–31

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n By Wesley R. Payne IV

The mission of the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group (PDLG) is to foster participation of a more diverse group of attorneys in the Greater Philadelphia Region in order to make our legal profession stronger, more productive and better equipped to address the challenges of the 21st century. The PDLG is comprised of Greater Philadelphia’s leading law firms and corporate legal departments committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. For over a decade, through the Fellows Program, the PDLG has provided summer associate opportunities for diverse law students who have completed their first year of studies with the hope that, after graduation, they will obtain perma-nent employment with our city’s leading law firms and corporate legal departments. However, to fully meet its mission, the PDLG must not only introduce the fellows

to the Greater Philadelphia legal market but must also provide ongoing programming and guidance to our member law firms and corporate legal departments with respect to retaining these attorneys. To that end, on Nov. 12, the PDLG, in partnership with the Philadel-phia Bar Association and other diversity and inclusion thought leaders, will hold its diversity and inclusion symposium titled “Best Practices for Retaining and Promoting Diverse Talent.”

We have developed an exciting program to address the issues that have been identified as barriers to retain-ing diverse attorneys in our legal community. The program highlight is our opening plenary speaker, Jerry Kang, professor of law and the inaugural vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of California, Los Angeles. Professor Kang is a nationally recognized thought leader and expert in the field of implicit bias. Implicit bias, as defined by the National

Center for State Courts, is:

…the bias in judgment and/or behavior that results from subtle cognitive processes (e.g., implicit attitudes and implicit stereotypes) that often operate at a level below conscious awareness and without intentional control. The underlying implicit attitudes and stereotypes responsible for implicit bias are those beliefs or simple associa-tions that a person makes between an object and its evaluation that “…are automatically activated by the mere presence (actual or symbolic) of the attitude object” (Dovidio, Gaertner, Kawakami, & Hudson, 2002, p. 94; also Banaji & Heiphetz, 2010). Although automatic, implicit biases are not completely inflexible: They are malleable to

IN our CoMMuNIty

PhIladelPhIa dIversIty laW GrouP

Symposium to Address Retention and Promotion of Diverse Talent

Members Volunteer to Boost Homeownership in Philadelphian By William B. Shuey

For the sixth year in a row, the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Real Property Section has made a difference by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia (Habitat Philadelphia). On Wednesday, Sept. 16, 12 Association volunteers met at a Habitat Philadelphia build house in West Philadelphia, not far from the Philadelphia Zoo, to make some much-needed improvements.

The Real Property Section has been helping Habitat Philadelphia with more than just providing build-day vol-unteers. Zoning issues, help acquiring and integrating par-cels of land and other legal issues that Habitat Philadelphia faces are all handled by Real Property Section volunteers.

Habitat Philadelphia has been working since 1985 to improve the lives of Philadelphians. Through a home-building and ownership program and a weatherproofing and home repair program, Habitat Philadelphia directly addresses the needs of Philadelphia families living in poverty. They also operate a “ReStore” location that accepts donated home goods and sells them to raise money for Habitat Philadelphia’s mission. This local chapter of the internationally known organization has helped more than 500 families, all of whom were required to put in at least 150 hours of “sweat equity” in order to become owners of a safe, sturdy and affordable home.

Habitat Philadelphia is deeply involved in the improve-ment of the housing stock in West Philadelphia. The Real Property Section has helped the organization with the

continued on page 17

continued on page 15

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The team of Philadelphia Bar Association volunteers included Alex Barth, executive committee, Real Property Section (back row, sunglasses); Brad V. Shuttleworth, chair, Board of Governors (back row, cap); Steven Rothberg, chair, Real Property Section (center, sunglasses); Chancellor Albert S. Dandridge III (second from right); and Sandy Rosenberg (far right); with Luke Powell, warranty carpenter, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia (third from right); along with other volunteers and staff, at the Habitat for Humanity Build Day hosted by the Real Property Section on Sept. 16 in West Philadelphia.

6 Philadelphia Bar Reporter October 2015 philadelphiabar.org

As lawyers, we are all naturally leaders. We lead our clients, staff, col-leagues and the public in general. How often, though, are we intentional about leadership? As a leader in the Phila-delphia Bar Association community and former staff supervisor, I regu-larly question the effectiveness of my personal leadership style while learning from those in the legal community whom I consider to be great leaders. As young lawyers, I believe this aspect of our careers is integral to our professional growth. Yet, it appears that very few law schools or firms support the development of leadership skills.

Studies of lawyers and other professionals have identi-fied six main leadership styles: visionary, mentoring, affili-ative, participative, pacesetting and commanding. Of the six styles identified, the visionary, mentoring, affiliative and participative leadership styles are generally viewed as positive. Studies show that the pacesetting and com-manding leadership styles tend to have a negative impact on a firm or organization’s morale and productivity.

Visionary. Visionary leaders are often described as authoritative but not authoritarian. They inspire people

to move toward a shared and compelling vision. This style tends to be effective dur-ing change or new direction. Organizations led by visionary leaders are often character-ized by hope, optimism and excitement for the future.

Mentoring. This style, often referred to as coaching, involves a significant time investment. The leader assesses the strengths and weaknesses of individuals in order to provide direction and feedback. The leader helps the individual connect their goals to

the goals of the organization. Affiliative. This style emphasizes the importance of

promoting a positive atmosphere and connecting people to one another. Leaders who embrace this style are often friendly and avoid being critical of others. Alone, this style can be counterproductive as there is little room for negative feedback. However, studies show that this is an excellent model when used with other styles, particularly the vision-ary style.

Participative. This style of leadership involves group input and participation with respect to a decision, plan or goal. This style of leadership is particularly common in the legal community. These leaders are described as good

listeners, team players and patient. This style is generally observed to have a positive impact on building commit-ment to a company or organization.

Pacesetting. In this style, the leader sets high standards for performance, which they are willing to demonstrate. This style is also historically very common among law-yers. The problem with pacesetting is that it tends to be overwhelming and leaders often fail to provide individuals with the guidance necessary to keep up with the high pace exemplified by the leader.

Commanding. This is the classic authoritarian model. This style of leadership is noted to be the least effective. It rarely involves praise and frequently employs criticism, which destroys morale. Studies show that this style is only effective in a crisis, when there is a sense of urgency to produce specific results. Even the modern military, which historically used this approach, has come to recognize its limited usefulness.

Overall, it appears that as a lawyer, it is best to use multiple leadership styles depending on the situation that is being presented. However, studies do show that the leader-ship styles identified as “positive” are more effective and generate greater productivity.

As lawyers, most of us have experienced being “led” by

YLD Update

By Maria E. Bermudez

Lawyers and Leadership Virtues

continued on page 15

philadelphiabar.org October 2015 Philadelphia Bar Reporter 7

lIve, luNCh aNd learN

Controlling Your Online Identity Through Social Median By Maya J. Brown

What do you get when public relations profession-als and attorneys join forces? You get a flawless LinkedIn profile, among other things. On Sept. 10, GillespieHall PR visited the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division for a meeting of the minds on social media strat-egy. Tita Cherrier, public relations and content director, and Clara Swanson, digital strategy and marketing director, hosted an interactive social media presentation, “Taking Control of Your Online Identity.”

Cherrier reported that 78 percent of attorneys are using social media accounts professionally. But, are they in control of their online identity? “We are defined by what someone sees when they Google our name,” Swanson explained. That could include social networks, image searches, personal websites, online résumés and tagged photos.

As more and more people are turning to the Internet to find attorneys, it is increasingly important to be certain your offline reputation matches your online personae. “On social media you don’t want to display litigator by day, Miley Cyrus by night.” Cherrier joked. Equally as detri-

mental to having a negative online identity is not having an online identity at all. Potential clients perform searches on social media for attorneys. If you do not have a social media profile and your competitor does, you have missed an opportunity.

Cherrier and Swanson focused on LinkedIn as the best place for an attorney to start building their professional online identity. “LinkedIn should not be a replication of your résumé,” Cherrier warned, though. Together, the duo used three volunteer LinkedIn profiles to highlight some strategic “dos and don’ts.” First, write the summary in the first person to give yourself a voice, and it should be simple enough that a fifth-grader can read and understand it. Under each job title, utilize the space to tell a story rather than list duties and responsibilities. Cherrier says you should aim to, “make it pleasurable to read.” Using the headline to simply state your job title can be a waste of real estate. Instead, use descriptive words to draw viewers in to your profile.

Last but not least, Cherrier and Swanson stressed the purpose of social networks – to engage. By sharing relevant content, you expand your network and build more con-nections. Cherrier and Swanson encouraged listing contact

information in at least two places, maximizing accessibility. The goal, they said, is to achieve and maintain LinkedIn’s “All-Star” profile status.

Clara Swanson, director of digital marketing & strategy, GillespieHall PR (left); and Tita Cherrier, public relations and content creator, GillespieHall PR; at the Young Lawyers Division’s Live, Lunch and Learn program on Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Philadelphia Bar Association.

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8 Philadelphia Bar Reporter October 2015 philadelphiabar.org

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SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE

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From both the legal and business

perspectives, protecting intellectual

property (IP) is a complex process that

requires constant action and monitoring

to maintain and enforce all types of IP

rights. Panelists Christiane S. Campbell,

partner at Duane Morris, LLP; Matthew

P. Frederick, associate at Reed Smith LLP;

and Alan S. Nadel, partner at Panitch

Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP recently

presented to the Small Business Commit-

tee on these issues, specifically on manag-

ing infringement, usurpation and other

transgressions of IP. The panelists discussed

various strategies to manage the process,

including post-grant patent proceedings,

detecting and deterring trademark infring-

ers and resolving trademark and domain

name disputes.

Nadel began by recounting current

developments at the United States Patent

and Trademark Office (USPTO), most

markedly the recently effective America

Invents Act (AIA). He noted that the AIA

allows people to challenge patents more

readily and cost-effectively than through

courts. Specifically, the AIA provides new

features for patent owners to fix a pat-

ent if there are problems with it through

supplemental examination, where a patent

owner can respond to and remediate

explicitly set forth problems. Nadel further

explained that pre-issuance submission of

patent applications sets up a new proce-

dure to allow a third party to anonymously

challenge a patent application. A third

party can also challenge a patent through

an ex parte reexamination request. Nadel

presented recent statistics, including that

88 percent of all filed written decisions by

the Patent Trial and Appeal Board where

patents were challenged had at least one

claim invalidated, demonstrating the

power of these types of proceedings.

Frederick presented on strategies

to help clients monitor and enforce

trademarks. He began by explaining the

basics of trademarks and what makes a

good trademark, noting that a strong

trademark typically includes arbitrary,

made-up words that do not actually

relate to the goods or services (i.e. Apple,

which is a fruit and has nothing to do

with a computer), and suggestive words

about a quality or feature of the goods

or services (i.e. Greyhound, which

implies speed). Unique and/or arbitrary

trademarks also make it easier to detect

trademark infringement, Frederick said.

Simple actions such as a Google search

to help find a common law trademark

being used in commerce, in addition to

USPTO office searches for applications

and registrations, and using services to set

up watches and searches, are all vigilant

ways to detect trademark infringement.

He cautioned that when approaching

a potential infringement issue, trade-

mark owners should watch the tone of

the communication. Frederick pro-

vided examples of attempts to enforce

trademarks that resulted in poor public

relations and the reputation of being

a “trademark bully,” which negatively

affected business.

Closing out the panel, Campbell dis-

cussed domain name issues, a particularly

salient topic because of the explosion

of available domain names. She noted

that a domain name is one asset that all

businesses have in common, and domain

name disputes can arise when a problem-

atic third party has already purchased a

name. She said that these “squatters” can

be difficult to identify because some reg-

istrars permit anonymous or proxy reg-

istrations. There are various services that

assist trademark owners in identifying a

squatter’s contact information, including

“who is” domain lookup. One solution

that Campbell has found successful is to

review the registrar’s terms and condi-

tions, which likely include a provision

for providing accurate information, and

to contact the registrar itself if a viola-

tion has occurred. Sending a cease and

desist letter is the first step and trademark

owners should document every effort to

contact the registrant. If those steps fail,

an expedited dispute resolution proceed-

ing will provide the quickest and most

efficient relief to take back domain names

that are squatting and/or infringing.

Annie Kernicky (annie.kernicky@flastergreen-berg.com), an associate at Flaster/Greenberg, is a member of the editorial board of the Philadelphia Bar Reporter.

When Bad Things Happen to Good IP

philadelphiabar.org October 2015 Philadelphia Bar Reporter 9

TOLAWYER LAWYER REFERRALSFor details on placing a Lawyer to Lawyer referral ad, contact Lana Ehrlich at 215-557-2392 or lehrlich@alm.com.

For more information on placing a Lawyer to Lawyer referral ad, please contact

LANA EHRLICH at

215-557-2392 or lehrlich@alm.com

INTERNATIONAL LAW COMMITTEE

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION REFERRALS

For State Workers’ Compensation Referrals:

PAUL B. HIMMEL

Certified Worker’s Compensation

phimmel@freedmanlorry.com

For Longshoreman and Harbor Worker Referrals:

DAVID LINKER

dlinker@freedmanlorry.com

By Maureen E. Farrell

most have probably seen “The Sound of Music” at

some point in time in their lives. The musical features

beautiful views of Salzburg, Austria, and the surrounding

Alps. If teaching international law is your bent, then the

mandatory week-long orientation in Salzburg, in the castle

where “The Sound of Music” was filmed, will probably

be part of the agenda. Many gorgeous old castles and

palaces are used as conference centers to prepare students

for teaching assignments with the Center for International

Legal Studies (CILS). CILS places experienced common-

law practitioners in visiting professorships (with terms

ranging from 2-6 weeks) at institutions in Eastern Europe

and countries of the former Soviet Union. Visiting profes-

sors range in age and experience, so if you are a recent

graduate or a more seasoned professional, opportunities

exist for a position with CILS.

Pepper Hamilton LLP recently hosted the Philadelphia

Bar Association’s International Law Committee for a pre-

sentation by Karen Porter, a 1974 graduate of Northeast-

ern University School of Law, who is a permanent visiting

professor of law at the Pericles Law Center in Moscow,

Russia (www.pericles.ru), and adjunct professor of law at

Widener University - Delaware Law School in its foreign

LL.M. program. Porter discussed her experience teach-

ing lawyers in the Russian cities of Moscow, Podolsk and

Murom over the course of the past five years.

At CILS, lawyers are trained extensively in EU law.

About 40-50 lawyers are trained at once each March.

Teaching assignments include benefits like accommoda-

tions and tax-deductible travel expenses. Classes are taught

in English. When accepting an assignment, Porter said, be

prepared to teach a multitude of subjects. Constitutional

law, criminal procedure and even children’s rights were

among the courses she has taught. Porter advised that

CILS teachers obtain a list of subjects prior to the assign-

ment to avoid surprises, as one must be prepared for all

kinds of uncharted waters. Teachers should not expect the

same facilities as those that are commonplace in the U.S.,

like flash drives or white boards.

Porter said that flexibility and adaptability to cultural

differences is important for CILS assignments. There are

varying degrees of students’ proficiency in English and she

advised being careful about incorporating American cul-

tural references into discussions as students are often unfa-

miliar with them. Students also had trouble understanding

American constitutional law and First Amendment rights.

She often fielded students’ questions about censorship and

who keeps people from making fascist speeches. This was

an eye-opening experience, and drove home that while

Americans expect fundamental rights in this country, it is

still very different in others.

Maureen M. Farrell (maureen@maureenfarrellesq.com), prin-cipal of the Law Offices of Maureen M. Farrell, is an associate editor of the Philadelphia Bar Reporter.

American Professor in Russia Shares Experiences Abroad

Attendees listen to Professor Karen Porter (fourth from right) present on her experiences teaching in Russia at the International Law Committee meeting on Sept. 8 at Pepper Hamilton LLP.

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10 Philadelphia Bar Reporter October 2015 philadelphiabar.org

With a new crop of students filling

law school classrooms, it seems timely

to reflect on the reasons we initially

chose the law as our profession. Try

casting your mind back to the conversa-

tions you had with family, friends and

teachers when you were deciding what

to do with your life after college or after

a career change. I would venture to say

that for many of us those conversations

did not revolve around the goal of mak-

ing money. It is true that by most mea-

sures, the law provides a good, steady

living for those who work hard. How-

ever, my sense is that for my friends and

me, money rarely informed the “should

I go to law school?” decision-making

process, or at least it did not dominate

the discussion.

The opportunity to “make a differ-

ence” or “help people,” was probably a

more common feature of those “should

I apply” conversations. You might say

the desire to have an impact or make

a difference is a vague, optimistic and

naïve goal. What does it even mean, in

a practical sense? And how does such a

goal play into the robust representation

of clients, some of whom are likely to

be corporations and others of whom

– whether individuals or corporations –

hardly can be considered unfortunate.

Those considering a career in the law

frequently want to

“change the system”

– the legal system,

that is. Or perhaps

they are talking about

the American politi-

cal system – it is not

usually very clear. The

overarching point,

however, is a feeling, a

sense, that the “system”

is stacked against those

who do not have the

resources to participate and a desire to

help level the playing field. Again, you

might ask, what does that have to do

with the day-to-day practice of law? We

have to manage motion deadlines, trial

dates and client conference calls. We

cannot change very much. As a practic-

ing attorney, you barely have time for

your kids’ school appointments or soc-

cer games, let alone time to champion a

cause or represent clients pro bono.

There may be as few as three years

separating two distinct outlooks: (1)

that of a prospective law student think-

ing about helping others, and setting

out to change or impact the system in

some meaningful way, and (2) that of a

practicing attorney focused on meeting

deadlines, adhering to the Rules of Civil

Procedure or Evidence, satisfying his or

her paying clients and

making a decent living.

Law school and the

practice of law all too

often teach aspiring

attorneys that their

original intentions –

whether to help people

or improve the system

– were either wrong or

off the mark. They some-

times emphasize confor-

mity and profitability at

the expense of nobler goals. That is why

I think all attorneys would benefit from

taking a step back and trying to practice

law with the heart of a “1L.” I am not

saying that you need to give up your

practice solely to help the poor. I also

am not saying that you must, or should,

wage a single handed crusade against

the injustices, actual or perceived, that

we see in our society or the legal system

every day. And, I am certainly not say-

ing that you need to take your paycheck

out of the equation.

I am saying that there are three les-

sons we could all benefit from “unlearn-

ing.” Here they are together with some

suggestions to speed the “unlearning”

process:

(1) You cannot change the legal system, so just play along. In fact,

all attorneys (from practitioners to

Supreme Court Justices) have a duty to

ensure that equity permeates the legal

process. As attorneys, we are officers of

the court and should not forget this or

diminish the value of this role. We can

change the legal system, or help those,

for whom the system does not seem to

work well, attain equal access to justice.

By working with and supporting the

Philadelphia Bar Foundation you can

have a significant impact on improving

how the legal system works, particularly

for the neediest members of our com-

munity. The Bar Foundation’s current

work to support the development of an

Equal Justice Center to house public

interest attorneys, for example, will help

enhance efficiency and collaboration

among the region’s public interest legal

services organizations. The everyday

work of the Bar Foundation supports

more than 30 public interest law orga-

nizations that positively impact tens of

thousands of people each year.

(2) You do not have time to help the less fortunate. We all fall into the “I

don’t have enough time” trap, but if we

are really honest with ourselves, it comes

down to organization and time man-

agement. If you mark some extra time

in your calendar for pro bono work,

you will still be able to get your regular

work done with time to spare for your

family and friends. The Bar Foundation

has a number of events throughout the

year that require only a few hours of

your time yet make a huge difference,

including the annual Andrew Hamilton

Benefit Bash set for Saturday, Nov. 7, at

the Loews Philadelphia Hotel.

(3) You have to “sell out” to get paid. I know many very successful

attorneys in our community who still

manage to devote a significant amount

of their valuable time to work on behalf

of the public interest that matters to

them as much as their work for pay-

ing clients. It is a matter of proactively

putting yourself in a position to do the

kind of work you set out to do on the

first day of law school. Each year the Bar

Foundation has more than 500 donors

who contribute to its success; you can

easily join that long list. Similarly, you

can participate in the many programs

the Bar Foundation’s grantee organiza-

tions offer that provide direct legal help

to the most vulnerable members of our

society.

Groups like the Bar Foundation exist

to help all attorneys “unlearn” these les-

sons and balance their robust practices

with the noble ideals that prompted us

to pursue this profession. As president

of the Bar Foundation, I ask you to let

your “inner 1L” out and get involved

with some of our work. As always,

thank you for your help.

Steven E. Bizar (steven.bizar@bipc.com), an executive shareholder at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, is president of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation.

Bar Foundation

By Steven E. Bizar

Practice Law with the Heart of a 1L: Three Lessons Practitioners Should Unlearn

philadelphiabar.org October 2015 Philadelphia Bar Reporter 11

Pro BoNo sPotlIGht

Blank Rome Takes Legal Clinic on the Roadn By Kathy E. Ochroch and

Krystal Kane

At Blank Rome LLP, one of our signature pro bono projects is a partner-ship with the Legal Clinic for the Disabled (LCD) to host advance planning clinics at Inglis House (Inglis), a specialty nursing care facility for adults with severe physical disabilities. These clinics provide us with a unique opportunity to use our skills to help those in need while challenging us to grow as counselors and advocates.

Due to their limited mobility, the clients at Inglis are unable to travel to our office, so we work with LCD to bring the clinic to them. A team of attorneys brings laptops and printers to Inglis, where they draft wills, living wills and powers of attor-ney for residents. The most challenging and rewarding part of this work is bridging the communication gap with our Inglis clients. Many of the them have significant disabilities that make verbal communica-tion difficult, and require us to learn new ways to communicate effectively. We have

served clients who use assistive devices to speak, and others who use hand or head gestures to indicate their wishes. One particularly memorable client used a pre-recorded message to introduce himself and to explain his method of communication. His message instructed us how to ask ques-tions so that he could properly respond. Through the recorded message, we also learned about his background as a proud Philadelphian and Vietnam veteran. Using these tools, we are able to see the person, not just the disability.

While there is undoubtedly a benefit to the clients we assist through this clinic, the work is also equally meaningful and important to our volunteers. The oppor-tunity to bring legal services directly to people who need them is a truly rewarding experience. It also presents an opportunity to push ourselves out of our comfort zones. Our work provides a sense of security and independence to our clients, and we leave the clinic feeling satisfied and grateful for the opportunity to help. Through this project, we are able to ensure that these cli-ents have the ability to make choices that will impact their health care and finances for years to come. It can be very difficult for adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living to retain their indepen-dence, so it is incredibly gratifying that we are able to help them in this way.

We feel very fortunate to work with LCD to further their mission of ensur-ing access to legal services for low-income people with disabilities. If you are inter-ested in learning more about pro bono opportunities through the LCD, please contact Esther Miller, managing attorney, at emiller@lcdphila.org or 215-587-3357.

Kathy E. Ochroch (Ochroch@BlankRome.com) is a partner and the director of pro bono services, and Krystal Kane (KKane@BlankRome.com) is the pro bono coordina-tor, at Blank Rome LLP.

GillespieHall PR left the Young Lawyers Division with six things they can do now to improve their LinkedIn profiles: 1) use a recent, sharply focused headshot; 2) insert an appropriate background image that enhances (not detracts from) your headshot; 3) shorten and customize your LinkedIn URL; 4) optimize your head-line — you have 120 characters to make an impression; 5) ask for recommendations from credible, relevant connections; and 6) populate the volunteer section on the page — show your “caring” side.

Visit GillespieHall.com for more tips and suggestions for taking control of your online identity.

Maya J. Brown (mbrown@philabar.org) is the marketing and development coordinator for the Philadelphia Bar Foundation.

Online Identitycontinued from page 7

12 Philadelphia Bar Reporter October 2015 philadelphiabar.org

laW roCks

Inaugural Battle of the Bands Rocks Local Legal Non-Profits n By Maureen Olives

The rock stars of the Philadelphia legal commu-nity came out to play for charity on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the first annual “Law Rocks Philadelphia” concert. Law Rocks is an international non-profit that hosts “battle of the bands” events, featuring bands of legal profession-als and friends, with the goal of raising money for their favorite non-profits.

The Philadelphia show was held at Union Transfer, the former Spaghetti Warehouse and acoustically spectacular venue, at 10th and Spring Garden streets. Three bands took the stage before an enthusiastic crowd: Cramdown, representing, and fundraising for, Philadelphia Legal Assis-tance and Community Legal Services; Alternative Dispute Revolution, representing Blank Rome LLP, raising funds for the United Way; and Ballard Spahr Galactica, from Ballard Spahr LLP, raising money for the Philadelphia Bar Foundation.

Cramdown, which led the other bands in pre-concert fundraising, chose to start the show with their 25-min-ute set of 80s rock. Several groupies wearing black shirts

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Cramdown, representing and fundraising for Philadelphia Legal Assistance and Community Legal Services, was the winning band of 2015 Law Rocks Philadelphia on Sept. 15 at Union Transfer. continued on page 17

philadelphiabar.org October 2015 Philadelphia Bar Reporter 13

Final ACA Rules on Preventative Servicesn By Brian McLaughlin

On July 14, 2015, the Departments of Labor, the Treasury and Health and Human Services (collectively, the Depart-ments) issued final regulations as they relate to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirement that non-grandfathered group health plans cover certain mandated preventive care services, including contra-ception, at no cost. These regulations are effective for plan years beginning on or after October 1, 2015.

Notably, the guidance clarifies that if a plan that does not have in its network a provider who can provide a particular recommended preventive service, the plan is required to cover the service when performed by an out-of-network provider without cost sharing (i.e., at 100 per-cent). Also the effective date for changing required preventive services when new guidelines are issued. If there is a change in the guidelines that occurs during a plan year, the group health plan must provide coverage for that item or service until the

end of the plan year, except to the extent the change constitutes a downgrade to a “D” rating or the item was part of a safety recall or otherwise poses a significant safety concern.

The regulations finalize the definition of an eligible organization for purposes of qualifying for an accommodation. An eligible organization is an organiza-tion that opposes providing coverage for some or all contraceptive items and services on account of religious objections and is either organized and operated as a nonprofit entity and holds itself out as a religious organization; or organized and operated as a closely held for-profit entity and the highest governing body (e.g., board of directors, board of trustees or owners if managed directly by its owners) has adopted a resolution or other simi-lar action establishing that it objects to covering some or all contraceptive services on account of the owner’s sincerely held religious beliefs.

A closely held for-profit entity, not previously defined, is defined as an entity

that has no publically traded ownership interests; and has more than 50 percent of the value of its ownership interest owned directly or indirectly by five or fewer individuals (or an ownership structure that is substantially similar to these requirements) as of the date of the entity’s self-certification or notice. For purposes of the 50 percent threshold (or substantially similar ownership interest), the Depart-ments lay out specific ownership interest considerations that are consistent with other areas of tax law. Additionally, a for-profit entity may seek clarification from HHS as to whether it qualifies as a closely held entity. The for-profit entity may send a letter describing the ownership structure to HHS. If no response is received by the Department of Health and Human Ser-vices (HHS) within 60 calendar days, the requirement is deemed to be satisfied so long as the entity maintains that structure.

To qualify for the accommodation, the organization (nonprofit or closely held for-profit) must self-certify status consis-tent with HHS rules. A person authorized to make a certification on behalf of an employer must execute the Form 700 and provide it to the third-party administrator (TPA) or carriers. The certification must be made available for examination upon request by the first day of the first plan year to which the accommodation applies. Alternatively, the authorized person may provide notice to HHS that it is an eligible organization and of its religious objection to coverage of all or a subset of contracep-tive services. The notice must contain specific information requested by HHS, including names and contact informa-tion for any carriers or TPAs. Under this option, HHS will send a separate notifica-tion to each of the plan’s TPAs informing them of receipt of this notice and their obligations with respect to providing contraceptives coverage at no cost to the employee or the plan. In the case of a self-insured group health plan, the Department of Labor will coordinate with HHS to notify the TPAs.

If the carrier is an insured plan the car-rier has the sole responsibility for providing the contraceptive coverage. This must be provided without cost-sharing or a pre-mium, fee or other charge to the eligible organization, the health plan, or partici-pants or beneficiaries.

If the plan is self-insured and the TPA agrees to enter into or remain in a contrac-tual relationship with the eligible organi-zation, the TPA will provide or arrange

payments for contraceptive services under one of the following methods: provide payment for contraceptive services for plan participants and beneficiaries; or arrange for a carrier to provide payments for the contraceptive services for plan participants and beneficiaries to the TPA. In either case, the TPA may not impose any cost sharing or a premium, fee or other charge on the eligible organization, the health plan, or participants or beneficiaries. Both the TPA and carrier may be reimbursed for the cost of arranging such payments though an adjustment to the federally facilitated exchange user fee for a participating issuer.

Brian McLaughlin (Brian.McLaughlin@usiaffinity.com) is vice president of USI Affinity’s Benefit Solutions Group.

For more information about insurance, visit the Philadelphia Bar Association Insurance Exchange at www.usiaffinityex.com/PhiladelphiaBar. For Lawyers’ Professional Liability and other business coverage, you can continue to visit  the regular Phila-delphia Bar Association Insurance Program website at www.mybarinsurance.com/PhiladelphiaBar. If you’d like to talk to someone about insurance and benefits options for Philadelphia Bar Association members, call USI Affinity Benefit Specialists at 1-855-874-0267.

For over 75 years, the divisions of USI Affinity have developed, marketed and administered insurance and financial programs that offer affinity clients and their members unique advantages in coverage, price and service. As the  endorsed broker of the Philadelphia Bar Association and more than 30 other state and local bar associations and with more than 30,000 attorneys in-sured, USI Affinity has the experience and know-how to navigate the marketplace and design the most comprehensive and inno-vative insurance and benefits packages to fit a firm’s individual needs.

health Care reForM uPdate FroM usI aFFINIty

14 Philadelphia Bar Reporter October 2015 philadelphiabar.org

statements by highlighting her work on the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline and Disciplinary Board, as well as her work teaching ethics at the Duquesne Univer-sity School of Law. Judge Wecht, Yale Law graduate and former Washington, D.C. Circuit Court clerk, emphasized his five-point plan to promote ethics on the state Supreme Court, which included allowance of cameras in the court-room and mandatory ethics training. He also emphasized that it is “time to elect someone who loves jurisprudence” to the bench, and not just someone who is in love with judicial politics.

Comments by Judge Donohue halfway through the forum made it clear that she, Judge Dougherty and Judge Wecht had already coordinated on certain aspects of their campaign strategy. Specifically, all four candidates were asked about the anticipated influx of so-called “dark money,” that is, money from national third-party politi-cal action committees intended to affect this state cam-paign, particularly through advertising. Judge Donohue responded that she, Judge Dougherty and Judge Wecht had already discussed this issue and jointly declared their hope that any advertising funded by such money would be truthful and ethical.

In his opening remarks, Judge George acknowledged the opinion of some that he is an outsider, but that he is not a man to be easily dissuaded by obstacles. The eighth of nine children who grew up on food stamps in central

Pennsylvania, Judge George labored at local steel mills, bored his way through law school, and then served as the Adams County District Attorney before being elected to the judiciary. When asked about his judicial philosophy, he declared unhesitatingly that “it is not for the court to legislate from the bench.”

The candidates were probed on the potential for bias where local parties contribute to judicial campaigns for judges before whom they may eventually sit. Judge Dougherty asserted that regardless of where their con-tributions originate, or of the fact that they must engage in some form of political campaigning, “we are first and foremost lawyers, [and] we have taken an oath.” However, Judge George was firm that recusal should be automatic for judges who have been recipients of large campaign donations from parties who come before them, while Judge Wecht did believe discretion was best, but recusal was appropriate above a certain level of contribution.

Judge Dougherty made an impassioned case for his con-tribution to the legal community through his work as an assistant district attorney, as well as his work as Adminis-trative Judge, emphasizing his ability to streamline finances to make available funds more effective. Judge Wecht

indicated his desire to expand the use of specialized courts, such as drug and mental health courts, for non-violent offenders. The representation of the poor and indigent was central to Judge Donohue’s presentation, and she sug-gested the Supreme Court could revisit the bar on what constitutes effective assistance of counsel, which might pressure the legislature to increase funding for legal aid and public defender institutions. Judge George made clear that funding may not solve everything, and it is necessary to reintroduce a culture of service to the legal community in the Commonwealth.

The discussion at this forum was about more than just the candidates’ campaigns. In the current climate of bud-get woes, scandal and disenchantment in the legal com-munity, these judges provided a discussion of the problems we currently face, and what we might do to address them.

Amanda J. Dougherty (amanda.dougherty@phila.gov), an assistant city solicitor for the City of Philadelphia, is an associate editor of the Philadelphia Bar Reporter.

It was thus no surprise that judicial ethics was a dominating topic.

Supreme Courtcontinued from page 1

philadelphiabar.org October 2015 Philadelphia Bar Reporter 15

house in West Philadelphia by volunteering for build days over the course of three years. Last year, the homeowner was finally able to move in, but found that serious water issues in the basement were damaging the property. In response to the homeowner’s need, the Real Property Sec-tion organized volunteers for the difficult and dirty work of tearing out the basement floor to remediate the water problem. With new pumps and a new floor to be installed, the house should serve the needs of the homeowner for years to come.

The Real Property Section also organizes other build day volunteering opportunities throughout the year, as well as opportunities to volunteer at Habitat Philadelphia’s ReStore. Recently, these opportunities have opened up to every member of the Association.

With the Real Property Section’s help, Habitat Phila-delphia has acquired much of the land in that particular neighborhood, with the goal of rehabilitating it to make a larger impact on the neighborhood as a whole. The specific block has many abandoned properties right now, but has a brighter future with the help of Habitat Philadelphia and Association volunteers.

House by house and block by block, Habitat Phila-delphia and the Association’s Real Property Section work together to improve the lives of hundreds of Philadel-phians. If you are interested in volunteering, reach out to the Real Property Section and ask how you can help. William B. Shuey (William.Shuey@phila.gov) is an assistant city solicitor for the City of Philadelphia.

Habitatcontinued from page 5

Young Lawyers Division (YLD) members Anna B. Will (left); Michael J. Rugnetta and Maria E. Bermudez, chair, YLD; counsel a client, pro bono, at Legal Advice Live! at the Ramonita de Rodriguez branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, on Sept. 16.

folks practicing many, if not all of the leadership styles above. I challenge you to consider the leadership styles you have experienced and their effectiveness. I further challenge you to question your own leadership style and its effectiveness. My hope is that we, as young lawyers and

leaders rising in the legal community, can one day look back on our careers and be proud of our contributions to those we lead.

Maria E. Bermudez (mbermudezesq@gmail.com), an attorney advisor with the Social Security Administration, is chair of the Young Lawyers Division.

YLD Updatecontinued from page 6

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16 Philadelphia Bar Reporter October 2015 philadelphiabar.org

PNC Wealth Management® is pleased to intro-duce Mary E. Ashenbrenner who will conduct this month’s and future interviews on important financial and economic topics. Mary is a Senior Vice President with PNC Wealth Manage-ment located in center city Philadelphia. Please contact Mary at 215-585-1041 or at mary.ashenbrenner@pnc.com.

How do you know if your wealth

strategy is working as hard as it can

for you? In this month’s interview, I

sat down with Bill Whitmore, CFP®,

vice president and senior wealth plan-

ner at PNC Wealth Management, to

discuss the importance of creating a

comprehensive plan – one that covers the

many inter-related aspects of a person’s

financial life.

Mary Ashenbrenner (MA): When is the

best time to sit down and work on your

wealth strategy?

Bill Whitmore (BW): There is usually

a triggering event, such as a marriage or

retirement, which motivates someone to

work on their finances. But just as a simple

kitchen remodel can reveal structural

problems in a house, we find that planning

one area of a person’s financial life may

expose other areas that need work. There

is good reason for that, as finances are usu-

ally linked — a person’s investment plan is

related to his retirement plan, which can

affect the estate plan, and they all should

incorporate the need for income.

MA: What is the benefit of taking that

comprehensive look, as opposed to tack-

ling one area at a time?

BW: People who have addressed those

individual areas as separate disciplines

should make sure that their strategies will

work together. Looking at your wealth

plan in its entirety makes it more likely

that you will be prepared to choose, for

example, a retirement solution that fits

your tax situation and also supports your

estate plan. This interconnectedness makes

it even more important

to address any gaps or

deficiencies in your

strategy.

MA: How do I know if

my wealth plan is miss-

ing something?

BW: These are the key,

fundamental elements

of a wealth strategy that

people should address to

help them achieve their

long-term goals:

Defining and maintaining an adequate

cash reserve. This is not just about building

an emergency fund, although that is part

of it. You also want to be able to seize a

purchase opportunity that might come up,

and should consider carefully the accounts

in which you’ll hold your liquid funds.

Setting a strategy for using credit. Shift-

ing your credit balances — mortgage, credit

cards, lines of credit — as interest rates

change and as new credit solutions become

available is smart. What is even smarter is

planning how you could use leverage to

better manage your expenses, especially

large payments such as college tuition.

Creating a household spending plan. It

is important to understand what is coming

in and what is going out in order to man-

age it efficiently. Try to identify where you

want to use credit or liquidity and how to

support your savings goals.

Reviewing insurance protection. Choos-

ing the right policies for life, disability and

property requires reading the fine print —

repeatedly. Contracts have become more

complex, which means you can’t leave your

coverage on autopilot.

Taking care of estate planning. Federal

law about how estates will be taxed has

changed frequently during the last decade,

but the need to direct how your assets

should be handled after your lifetime has

not. The focus of an estate plan has shifted

from mitigating transfer taxes to manag-

ing income and capital gains taxes. The

tools we use to work

toward that goal have not

changed, but the way we

use them has.

Preparing for retire-

ment. The challenge of

accumulating retirement

assets and then generat-

ing a lasting income stream from them

has become too important — and com-

plex — to undertake without a comprehen-

sive plan of its own. Retirement prepara-

tion draws on all the other disciplines.

It makes sense that in the last few years,

impending retirement has become a trigger

for many people to finally begin financial

planning.

MA: Is it ever too late to start working on

a wealth plan?

BW: Waiting to create a comprehensive

plan until you are a decade or less away

from retirement is starting things a bit late.

The good news is that you do not have to

get everything done at the same time, or in

a particular order. We encourage people to

start with their triggering event, and then

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Mary Ashenbrenner is a Senior Vice President with PNC Wealth Management. She can be

reached at mary.ashenbrenner @pnc.com or 215-585-1041. For more information, visit pnc.com/wealthmanagement

The material presented in this article is of a general nature and

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The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”) uses the

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TO ORDER: Call 800-756-8993 | Visit www.lawcatalog.com/ed

Philadelphia Bar Reportr

Pennsylvania eDiscovery 2nd Edition By Philip N. Yannella, Ballard Spahr LLP

Perhaps the greatest challenge for attorneys dealing with eDiscovery is keeping up with the ever-changing rules and technologies. Staying informed is critical in Pennsylvania since it is one of the first states to adopt revisions to ABA Model Rule 1.1 (Duty of Competence) requiring that attorneys stay abreast of changes in technology that may impact eDiscovery. Pennsylvania eDiscovery is a reference guide designed to help attorneys practicing in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware keep up with the dizzying pace of change.

Included with your paid purchase is an e-book. Access instructions will be included with your book.

philadelphiabar.org October 2015 Philadelphia Bar Reporter 17

emblazoned with “Turn Up Access to Justice to 11” cheered on their favorite band as they played memorable hits like Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker” and “Message in a Bottle” by The Police, as well as lesser-known songs like “The Logical Song” by the Canadian band, Supertramp.

The second set brought Alternative Dispute Revolution to the stage, delighting their many fans with a set that included hits like “Hey Jealousy” by the Gin Blossoms and “Can’t Get Enough” by Bad Company. They impressed the crowd with their active stage presence and tight, hard-hitting sound. After the first guitar solo, it was apparent that Matthew Rubba, an associate in Blank Rome’s con-

sumer financial services group, could easily have a second career as a professional rock guitarist.

Ballard Spahr Galactica finished the night with a blend of rock, soul, country and rhythm and blues. With a “sound that transcends genres and defies all labels,” the group traveled from “Fever” by Peggy Lee to “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele to “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” by The Rolling Stones. The band featured Rogers Stevens of the alternative rock band Blind Melon, who is now an associ-ate in Ballard’s labor and employment group. The band’s “actual” rock star guitarist did not steal the show, however; that honor went to Valerie Martin, lead singer and legal administrative assistant in Ballard’s patent group, whose powerful vocals brought the house down.

The three-judge panel scored the bands on creativity,

technical expertise and crowd participation. The judges’ scores were considered along with the groups’ fundraising performance and audience member votes, each counting for one-third of the total. After all the votes and scores and numbers were tallied, Cramdown was announced the winner, entitling them to an encore song and bragging rights until the next Law Rocks show in 2016.

Through the efforts of these talented musicians and performers, more than $10,000 were raised for local non-profits and, as one happy listener noted, “this is the best fundraiser ever.”

Maureen Olives (molives@philalegal.org), director of intake and service delivery for Philadelphia Legal Assistance, is chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Public Interest Section.

some degree and manifest in ways that are respon-sive to the perceiver’s motives and environment (Blair, 2002).

Professor Kang’s research and writings have focused on the nexus between implicit bias and the law, with the goal of advancing a “behavioral realism” that imports new scientific findings from the mind sciences into legal discourse and policymaking. He will address how we can develop and use bias interrupters to limit the effects of implicit bias in the legal profession and retain diverse

attorneys.Additionally, Lauren Stiller Rikleen, a nationally

recognized lecturer on developing a thriving, diverse and multi-generational workforce and author of “You Raised Us — Now Work With Us; Millennials, Career Success, and Building Strong Workplace Teams,” will discuss the issues related to the various generations cur-rently working in the legal profession. She, along with Mona Ghude, partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, will lead a breakout session regarding the retention of women of color in law firms. There will be additional breakout sessions led by the Chancellor of the Phila-delphia Bar Association, Albert S. Dandridge III, and other local leaders of our legal community discussing

the role of majority attorneys, specifically white males, in diversity and inclusion efforts; career advancement for senior law firm and in-house attorneys; and practi-cal advice for what law firms and legal organizations can do now to promote diversity and inclusion.

We invite you to attend. Please visit www.pdlg.net/ for more information.

Wesley R. Payne IV (paynew@whiteandwilliams.com), partner at White and Williams LLP, is the treasurer, Board of Governors, and co-chair of the Insurance Programs Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association. He is the co-president of the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group.

Law Rockscontinued from page 12

Symposiumcontinued from page 5

18 Philadelphia Bar Reporter October 2015 philadelphiabar.org

philadelphiabar.org October 2015 Philadelphia Bar Reporter 19

Statement of ownership, management and circulation (required by 39 USC 3685)

1. Publication title: Philadelphia Bar Reporter. 2. Publication No.: 710-6100. 3. Filing date: October 2015. 4. Issue Frequency: Monthly. 5. Number of issues published annually: 12. 6. Annual subscription price: $45. 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St., 11th floor, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107-2911. Contact person: Meredith Z. Avakian-Hardaway. Telephone: (215) 238-6300. 8. Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher: Philadelphia Bar Asso-ciation, 1101 Market St., 11th floor, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107-2911. 9. Full names and complete mailing addresses of publisher, editor, and managing edi-tor: Publisher: Philadelphia Bar Asso-ciation, 1101 Market St., 11th floor, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107-2911. Editor: Heather J. Austin, Esq., Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St., 11th floor, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107-2911. Managing editor: Thomas Rogers, Philadelphia Bar Association,1101 Market St., 11th floor, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107-2911. 10. Owner: Phila-delphia Bar Association, 1101 Mar-ket St., 11th floor, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107-2911. 11. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: none. 10. Owner: Full name: Philadelphia Bar Associa-tion. Complete mailing address: 1101 Market St. 11th Floor Philadelphia Pa. 19107. 11. Known Bondholders: None. 12. Tax status (for completion by non-profit organizations autho-rized to mail at nonprofit rates): The purpose, function and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes has not changed during the preceding 12 months. 13. Publication Title: Philadelphia Bar Reporter. 14. Issue date for circulation data below: October 2015. 15. Extent and nature of circulation: A. Total number of copies (net press run): Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 8716. Number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 8304. B. Paid and/or requested circulation: 1. Paid/requested outside-

county mail subscriptions stated on Form 3541 (Include advertiser’s proof and exchange copies): Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 2374. Number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 2227. 2. Paid in-county subscrip-tions stated on Form 3541 (Include advertiser’s proof and exchange copies): Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 6142. Number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 5877. 3. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other non-USPS paid distribution: Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 0. Number of copies of single issue published near-est to filing date: 0. 4. Other classes mailed through the USPS: Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 0. Number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 0. C. Total paid and/or requested circulation (sum of 15B1, 15B2, 15B3 and 15B4): Average num-ber of copies each issue during pre-ceding 12 months: 8516. Number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 8104. D. Free or Nomi-nal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail) 1. Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies included on PS Form 3541 Average No. Cop-ies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 0. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. 2. Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541 Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 0. No. Cop-ies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. 3. Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS (e.g., First-Class Mail) Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 0. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. 4. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means) Average No. Copies Each Issue Dur-ing Preceding 12 Months: 200. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 200. E. Total free distribution (sum of 15D1, 15D2, 15D3 and 15D4): Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 200. Number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing

date: 200. F. Total distribution (sum of 15C and 15E): Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 8716. Number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 8304. G. Copies not distributed: Average No. of Copies Each Issue Dur-ing Preceding 12 Months: 100. No. of Copies of Single Issue Published near-est to filing date: 100. H. Total (sum of 15F and 15G): Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 8816. Number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 8404. J. Percent paid and/or requested circulation (15C ÷ 15F x 100): Average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 97.7 percent. Number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 97.6 percent. 16. Electronic copy circulation: A. Paid electronic cop-ies: Average number copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 8600. No. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 8388. B. Total paid print copies (15C + 16A): Aver-age number copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 17116. No.

copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 16492. C. Total print distribution (15F + 16A): Average No. copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 17316. No. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: 16692. D. Percent paid (Both print and electronic copies) (16B ÷ 16C x 100): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 98.8 percent. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 98.8 percent. If the publication is a general publication, publication of this state-ment is required. Will be printed in the October 2015 issue of this publica-tion.Signed, Thomas Rogers. I certify that all information on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or mis-leading information on the form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanc-tions (including civil penalties).

20 Philadelphia Bar Reporter October 2015 philadelphiabar.org

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philadelphiabar.org October 2015 Philadelphia Bar Reporter 21

The Philadelphia Bar Association is looking forward to seeing you at the 2015 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference, Oct. 16-17, at Borgata in Atlantic City. While you are attending the event, make sure to take the time to meet and speak with all of this year’s generous sponsors.

22 Philadelphia Bar Reporter October 2015 philadelphiabar.org

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Oct. 1Bar Reporter Editorial Board: meeting,

8:30 a.m., 11th Floor Committee

Room South.

Law Firm Laboratory: educational

program, 12 p.m., 10th Floor Board

Room.

LRIS Committee: meeting, 12 p.m., 11th

Floor Committee Room South.

Oct. 2Civil Rights Committee: meeting, 12 p.m.,

11th Floor Conference Center. Lunch:

$9.

Oct. 5Municipal Court Commitee: meeting, 12

p.m., Municipal Court, 1339 Chestnut

St., 10th Floor Conference Room.

Family Law Section: meeting, 12 p.m.,

11th Floor Conference Center. Lunch:

$9.

Heather Jarvis Presentation: 3 p.m., 11th

Floor Conference Center.

Oct. 6Legal Rights of Persons with Disabilities Committee: meeting, 9 a.m., 10th Floor

Board Room.

Probate and Trust Section: quarterly

meeting and CLE program, 12:30 p.m.,

Pennsylvania Bar Institute, CLE Con-

ference Center, Wanamaker Building,

10th Floor, Philadelphia. CLE registra-

tion: pbi.org.

Oct. 7Delivery of Legal Services Committee: meeting, 8:30 a.m., 10th Floor Board Room.

Criminal Justice Section Executive Com-mittee: meeting, 12:30 p.m., 11th Floor

Committee Room South.

Franchise Law Committee: CLE, 12:30

p.m., 11th Floor Conference Center. Lunch: $9.50.

Women’s Rights Committee: meeting, 4

p.m., Marshall Dennehey Warner Cole-

man & Goggin, P.C., 2000 Market St.,

Suite 2300, Philadelphia.

Oct. 8City of Philadelphia OEM: meeting, 8:30

a.m., 11th Floor Conference Center.

Legislative Liaison Committee: meet-

ing, 12 p.m., 10th Floor Board Room.

Lunch: $9.

Oct. 9Global Philly 2015 & International Law Committee: educational program, 12

p.m., Pepper Hamilton LLP, 3000 Two

Logan Square, 18th and Arch streets,

Philadelphia.

uKNITe: brown bag lunch knit-a-long,

12 p.m., 11th Floor Conference Center.

Philadelphia Lawyer Editorial Board: meeting, 12:30 p.m., 11th Floor Com-

mittee Room South.

Government and Public Service Lawyers Committee: meeting, 3:30 p.m., 11th

Floor Committee Room South.

Oct. 12Columbus Day: Offices closed.

Oct. 13Orphan’s Court Litigation & Dispute Reso-lution: meeting, 8:30 a.m., HQ Business

Center, 1500 Market St., East Tower,

12th Floor, Philadelphia.

Appellate Courts Committee: meeting, 12

p.m., 11th Floor Conference Center.

Lunch: $9.

Real Property Executive Committee: meet-

ing, 12 p.m., Ballard Spahr LLP, 1735

Market St., Philadelphia. Rules and Practice Committee of the Pro-bate Section: meeting, 4 p.m., Schachtel,

Gerstley, Levin & Koplin, P.C., 123 S.

Broad St., Suite 2170, Philadelphia.

Oct. 14Intellectual Property Committee: meeting,

12 p.m., 11th Floor Committee Room

South. Lunch: $9.

Oct. 15Elder Law & Guardianship Committee: meeting, 12 p.m., 10th Floor Board

Room. Lunch: $9.

Family Law Section Executive Committee: meeting, 12 p.m., 11th Floor Commit-

tee Room South.

Oct. 162015 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference: 9:30 a.m., Borgata, Atlantic City, N.J.

Register online at philadelphiabar.org.

Oct. 172015 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference: 8:30 a.m., Borgata, Atlantic City, N.J.

Register online at philadelphiabar.org.

Oct. 19Criminal Justice Section: CLE,

12 p.m., 11th Floor Conference Center.

Lunch: $9.

Public Interest Executive Committee: meeting, 12 p.m., 10th Floor Board

Room. Lunch: $9.

Oct. 20Business Litigation Committee: meeting,

12 p.m., 11th Floor Conference Center.

Lunch: $9.50.

Cabinet: meeting, 12 p.m., 10th Floor

Board Room.

Employee Benefits Committee: meeting,

12:30 p.m., 11th Floor Committee

Room South. Lunch: $9.

Education Committee of the Probate and Trust Law Section: meeting, 4 p.m.,

Flaster/Greenberg, Four Penn Center,

1600 JFK Blvd., 2nd Floor, Philadel-

phia.

Oct. 21Business Law Executive Committee: meeting, 12 p.m., Dilworth Paxson

LLP, 1500 Market St., Suite 3500E,

Philadelphia.

City Policy Committee: meeting, 12 p.m.,

11th Floor Conference Center. Lunch:

$9.

YLD Cabinet: meeting, 12 p.m., 11th

Floor Committee Room South.

Elections Committee: meeting, 1 p.m.,

10th Floor Board Room.

Legislative Committee of the Probate and Trust Section: meeting, 4 p.m., Pep-

per Hamilton LLP, 3000 Two Logan

Square, 18th and Arch streets, Philadel-

phia.

State Civil Litigation Section: “Look

Good, Feel Good” clothing drive, Del

Frisco’s, 1426 Chestnut St., Philadel-

phia.

Legal Line: 5 p.m., LRIS offices.

Oct. 22Annual ACE Meeting and CLE Training: meeting, 12 p.m., Pennsylvania Bar

Institute Wanamaker Building, 10th

Floor, Philadelphia.

Giants of the Business Bar: 5:30 p.m.,

Wells Fargo History Museum, 123 S.

Broad St., Philadelphia.

Oct. 23Chancellor’s Forum: 12 p.m., 11th Floor

Conference Center.

Social Security Disability Benefits Commit-tee: meeting, 12 p.m., 10th Floor Board

Room. Lunch: $9.

uKNITe: brown bag lunch knit-a-long,

12 p.m., 11th Floor Committee Room

South.

YLD Bootcamp: educational program,

12 p.m., 11th Floor Conference Center.

Registration: $10.

Oct. 26YLD Executive Committee: meeting,

12 p.m., 10th Floor Board Room.

Oct. 27Women in the Profession Committee: meeting, 12 p.m., 10th Floor Board

Room. Lunch: $9.

Federal Courts Committee: meeting,

12:30 p.m., 11th Floor Conference

Center. Lunch: $9.

Tax Committee of the Probate and Trust Law Section: meeting, 3:30 p.m., 11th

Floor Conference Center.

Board of Governors: meeting, 4 p.m.,

10th Floor Board Room.

Oct. 28Immigration Law Committee: meeting,

12 p.m., 11th Floor Conference Center.

Lunch: $9.

Law Firm Laboratory: educational

program, 12 p.m., 10th Floor Board

Room. Lunch: $9.

LGBT Rights Committee: meeting, 12

p.m., 11th Floor Committee Room

South.

“Hail to the Chiefs:” 5:30 p.m., Chima,

1901 JFK Blvd., Philadelphia.

Oct. 29Housing Work Group - Civil Gideon Task Force: meeting, 8:30 a.m., 10th Floor

Board Room.

Board Observer Program: CLE program,

12 p.m., 11th Floor Conference Center.

Lunch: $9. CLE registration: pbi.org.

LRIS Committee: meeting, 12 p.m., 11th

Floor Committee Room South.

Rules and Procedures Committee: meet-

ing, 12 p.m., 10th Floor Board Room.

Lunch: $9.

Bar Academy at Philadelphia Theatre Company: “Disgraced,” 8 p.m., Suzanne

Roberts Theater, 480 S. Broad St.,

Philadelphia.

Oct. 30Section and Division Chairs: meeting,

8:30 a.m., 10th Floor Board Room.

Note: While the following listings have been verified prior to press time, any scheduled event may be subject to change by the committee or section chairs. Lunches are $9 for mem-bers and $12 for non-members, unless otherwise indicated. Register online for most events at philadelphiabar.org. Unless otherwise specified, all checks for luncheons and programs should be made payable to the Philadelphia Bar Association and mailed to Bar Headquar-ters, 1101 Market St., 11th Floor., Philadelphia, PA 19107-2955.

Send Bar Association-related calendar items 30 days in advance to Thomas Rogers, Man-

aging Editor, Philadelphia Bar Reporter, Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St.,

Philadelphia, PA 19107-2955. Fax: (215) 238-1159. Email: TRogers@philabar.org.

philadelphiabar.org October 2015 Philadelphia Bar Reporter 23

Michael A. Morse, Pa-mela C. Brecht and Marc S. Raspanti, partners

at Pietragallo Gordon

Alfano Bosick &

Raspanti, LLP, pre-

sented at “Qui Tam

Litigation: A Practi-

tioner’s Symposium”

sponsored by the

American Bar Associa-

tion’s Criminal Justice

Section and the

White Collar Crime

Southeast Region

Subcommittee. The

seminar took place at

Alston & Bird, LLP,

in Charlotte, N.C., on

Sept. 25

Melanie S. Carter, as-

sociate at Blank Rome

LLP, has been elected

to the board of direc-

tors of the Education

Law Center of Penn-

sylvania. In this role,

Carter will work with the other members

of the board to provide strategic direction

and planning for the organization, oversee

its finances, assist in fundraising efforts

and guide the executive director.

Manny D. Pokotilow,

partner at Caesar

Rivise, PC, has been

elected president

of the Jenkins Law

Library. Founded in

1802 in a small room

in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pa.,

as the Law Library Company of the City

of Philadelphia, it was formed by a group

of lawyers who set out to provide legal

information for the growing law commu-

nity in the city. Philadelphia’s law library

holds the prestigious position as America’s

first and oldest law library.

Ryan Hancock, of coun-

sel at Willig, Williams

& Davidson, was

honored as the August

2015 “Pro-Bono

Partner of the Month”

by the Public Interest

Law Center.  

James Beck, counsel at Reed Smith LLP,

was named “2015 Distinguished Defense

Counsel” by the Pennsylvania Defense In-

stitute (PDI) at the organization’s annual

meeting on Thursday, July 16. The PDI

presents the award annually to a member

of the civil defense

bar who best exempli-

fies the qualities of

professionalism, dedi-

cation to the practice

of law and promotion

of the highest ideals

of justice in the community.

Phyllis Horn Epstein,

of Epstein, Shapiro

& Epstein, P.C., is

pleased to announce

the recent publication

of her book “Women-

at-Law: Lessons-

Learned Along the Pathways to Success,

the Second Edition,” by the American Bar

Association.

Kimberly Rice, principal

of KLA Marketing

Associates, recently

facilitated “Building a

Prosperous Practice by

Effectively Network-

ing,” a three-city

“Rainmaker Now” seminar series for

members of the New Jersey Bar Associa-

tion.

Steven K. Mignogna,

shareholder at Archer

& Greiner, has re-

cently been appointed

as chair of the Alterna-

tive Dispute Resolu-

tion Committee in the

Litigation, Ethics and Malpractice Group

of the American Bar Association’s Real

Property, Trust and Estate Law Section.

Mignogna previously served as chair and

vice-chair of that group, and as vice-chair

and then chair of the Probate and Fidu-

ciary Litigation Committee in that group.

H. Ronald Klasko,

founding partner of

Klasko Immigration

Law Partners LLP,

participated as a panel

member at the Fourth

Annual California

EB-5 Conference, hosted by EB5 Inves-

tors Magazine. Klasko presented on the

topic of “Investing Cash from Loan Pro-

ceeds” in Los Angeles, Ca., on Monday,

Aug. 3.

Philip Karter, shareholder at Chamberlain,

Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry,

will lead a seminar covering defenses and

strategies of the IRS automated IDR-

Summons sequence titled “Cutting the

Abuse out of IDRs and Summonses:

Every Conceivable

Defense” at the 50th

Annual Southern

Federal Tax Institute

in Atlanta, Ga., from

Oct. 19–23.

Irwin W. Aronson,

partner at Willig, Wil-

liams & Davidson,

has been appointed to

chair the Pennsylvania

Interest on Lawyers’

Trust Accounts Board

(IOLTA) as of Sept. 1.

Mel Shralow, principal of ShralowADR,

LLC, has been appointed a mediator by

the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors

and by the Suburban West Realtors As-

sociation.

Christopher D. Ball, part-

ner at Manko, Gold,

Katcher & Fox, LLP,

participated in a panel

discussion titled “The

Future of Environ-

mental Due Diligence

& Risk Management.” His presentation,

which is part of the RE3 (Remediation

+ Redevelopment + Results) Conference

2015, was held at at the Pennsylvania

Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pa.,

on Sept. 16.

Deborah Epstein Henry, founder and president

of Law & Reorder,

was a speaker at a

Rocky Mountain

Legal Marketing

Association program

titled “Finding Bliss in the Future of Legal

Service & Practice” in Denver, Colo., on

Sept. 17, and also the keynote speaker

at a Pace University School of Law New

Directions Program titled “Navigating a

Successful Return in Uncharted Waters”

in New York, N.Y., on Sept. 21.

“People” highlights news of members’ awards, honors or appointments of a community or civic nature. Send news to Thomas Rogers, Managing Editor, Philadelphia Bar Reporter, Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St., 11th fl., Philadelphia, PA 19107-2955 or reporter@philabar.org.

People

24 Philadelphia Bar Reporter October 2015 philadelphiabar.org

FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, Sidney L. Gold & Associates,

P.C. has dedicated its practice to the field of employment law

and civil rights litigation. The firm’s attorneys take great pride

in serving as both aggressive and compassionate advocates

for victims of unlawful discrimination and harassment. As a

result, the Martindale-Hubbell© Bar Register has certified

Sidney L. Gold & Associates as a pre-eminent law firm in the

field of labor and employment law. More than 4,500 lawyers

throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey look to Sidney L.

Gold & Associates to refer their clients.

With a team approach, the firm’s attorneys represent clients

in all aspects of employment law litigation, including all forms

of workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful

termination, retaliation, whistleblower, employment contract,

wage and hour, and Family and Medical Leave Act claims.

A boutique practice with a small-firm atmosphere, Sidney L.

Gold & Associates provides personal attention to its clients,

who, at the same time, benefit from the experience and

expertise of the entire team.

Sidney L. Gold & Associates is proud of its skilled attorneys and

is honored by the recognition Super Lawyers© has bestowed

upon this year’s recipients.